This has per­haps been one of the most pul­sat­ing starts to a World Cup in re­cent mem­o­ry and cer­tain­ly one of the best by a host na­tion and a Con­ca­caf rep­re­sen­ta­tive in the US team. The tem­po has been re­lent­less, the match­es have been com­pet­i­tive, and the in­ten­si­ty is strik­ing from the very first whis­tle.